Ironing-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

L. J. COOPER.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1920.17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

C1 Horn 2-1 No. 766,221. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. L. J. GOOPER. IRONING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DIIOJ'I, 1903.

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

III/I 5 lnvenfoz PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

L. J. COOPER.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D3017, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

kgh um Patented August 2, 1904.

iJNiTED STATES PATENT @FFTQQE.

LONZO J. COOPER, OF KENNEDY, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF NORWVOOD, OIl'lO, A CORPORATION.

lRONlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,221, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed December 1'7, 1903. Serial No. 185,599. (No model.)

To It 'w/m/n- I!" 'nmgl concern:

Be it known that .I, Loszo J. Coornn, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at hennedy, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a shirt-ironing machine.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an automatic shirt-ironer employing a plurality of ironing-tables.

Another object of my invention is to subject the shirt to an intermitting pressing operation-that is to say, when the power is thrown in the ironing-table is pressed against an iron and held there a given period under pressure, dropped, remaining free for a predetermined period calculated to allow the escape of steam, so that it will not be condensed into the goods and table, and this process of alternately pressing and resting being continued several times automatically until the pressing of the shirt is complete. The ironing-tables revolve around a common support. beingloclted into and out of position.

My invention has for an additional object to provide an interlocking mechanism between the lever for locking the tables and the lever for actuating the pressing mechanism whereby the power can only be thrown in at a time when one of the tables is locked in position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clutch mechanism whereby when the actuating-treadle tripped for stopping the press the power is not at once thrown out, but the clutch members will remain in driving relation until the pressing mechanism has depressed the ironing-table in commission to its position of rest.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my ironingmachine. Fig. 2 is a section on line a .1, Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a section on line w 1/), Fig. 2. Fig. & is a detail front elevation of the pressing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the support for the ironing-tables. Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the clutch for controlling the driving mechanism. Fig. 7 is a rear detail view of the clutch-operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail end view of the same. Fig. 9 is a top sectional detail view of the treadles for controlling the clutch and tables. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the treadle for unlocking the support. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the treadle, showing the treadle of Fig. 10 depressed. Fig. 1). is a side elevation of the clutch mechanism, illustrating it in disengaged position.

1 2 represent two upright parallel standards formed on the base and having the top cross-head1, from the center of which is suspended the iron 5. supplied with steam through pipe 6 or in any other way provided with a steam circulation or other suitable source of heat.

7 represents journal-brackets supported by the base between the standards 1 and 2. in these journal-brackets is journaled the camshaft 8. having a cam 9 between the brackets.

10 and 11 represent the fast and loose pulleys on a shaft 12, supported by the standard 2.

13 represents a parallel stud-shaft also rearwardly projected upon standard On the shaft 12 is fixed driving-pinion 14.

15 16 represent compound gear-wheels on the shaft 13, gear-wheel 15 being intermeshed with pinion 14:.

17 represents a driven gear-wheel loose on shaft 8, inter-meshed with gear-wheel 16 on shaft 13. (irear 17 also has formed on its rear face the clutch 19.

20 represents a cooperating clutch member slidably fixed on shaft 8. Obviously when clutches 1t) and 20 are engaged the shaft 8 is driven through the train of gear-wheels above set forth. Details of clutch 20 will be set forth later.

The pressing mechanism consists of a plunger 21, having a head 22 at its upper end. baid plunger is provided with a ring 23 at its lower end, through which passes cam portion 9 of shaft 8. Cam 9 has a very marked peripheral depression 24, adapted to fit and engage a corresponding projection 25 in the upper section of the ring 23 of the plunger 21, comprising a roller journaled in said plunger.

26 represents a web of metal between the standards 1 and 2, having at the top and in the middle a cut-away portion forming straight vertical guide-walls 27. The ring 23 is provided with two parallel rearwardly-projecting studs 29, having the antifriction-rollers 3O engaging the guide-walls 27.

28 represents an ironing-table seated on the plunger head 22 in the action of raising. Preferably the plunger is downwardly extended below the ring 23, and the lower end of the plunger enters an orifice in the base of the frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus the plunger at its lower end has a sliding engagement with the frame, which steadies the plunger movement.

hen the clutches 19 and 20 are engaged, starting from the position of rest shown in Fig. 1, the cam 9 begins to rotate, freeing the plunger projection 25 from the cam depression 24, the plunger rising and pressing the ironing-table 28 against the iron 5. The peripheral swell of the cam 9 forces the table against the iron with considerable pressure and holds it there until the revolution of the cam again presents the' depression 24 to the plunger projection 25, when the table will be depressed and remain out of contact with the iron an interval before being again raised by the continued rotation of the cam 9. This operation of alternate pressure for a few seconds and rest for a few secondswill automatically continue until the clutch is thrown out. i

The table 28 has a sliding guideway engagement with its support which allows it to be reciprocated with the plunger-head 22. This table-guideway mechanism being vertical cooperates with the guiding mechanism 27 30 to form guiding instrumentality both at the top and bottom of the plunger 21, thus effectually insuring accuracy of plunger movement in a true vertical plane to and from the iron 5.

I will now describe my method of supporting and actuating a plurality'of ironing-tables. On the stem 32 of the standard 1 is journaled a revoluble support 33 provided with radial horizontal arms 34, (see Fig. 1' and Fig. 5,) three of such radial arms being shown. The ends of these arms are provided with the seats 35 for the ironing-tables; said seats having vertical guide-bores 36, each seat preferably having two. The ironing-table 28 is mounted on standard 37, which is mounted on a supporting-plate 38, having on one side a bracketplate 39, from which vertically depend the two guide-plungers 31. From this construction-it is obvious that each ironing-table is independently seated on its support 35 of the radial arm 34 and'that said ironing-tables are support is provided with three locking-holes 41, one for each radial arm. On the standard 1 is a bracket 42, in which is housed a springcontrolled keeper-pin 43, the upper end of which is adapted to enter the holes 41.

44 represents a treadle-lever pivoted at 45 to the support 1, and 46 represents alink connecting the keeper-pin 43 to the treadle-lever 44. Obviously when this treadle is depressed the support 33 may be freely rotated, and whenever the keeper-pin 43 enters and engages one of the holes 41 one of the ironingtables is locked in position between the iron and plunger.

1 will now continue the description of the mechanisms for actuating the clutch members 19 20.

47 represents a second treadle at a position approximately under the end of the firstnamed treadlelever 44. a This treadle-lever 47 is fixed to a rock-shaft 49, journaled in the frame and extending transversely thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of said rockshaft 49 is provided with a crank-arm 48.

51 represents a rock-shaft journaled in the casing at the rear of the machine and extending at right angles to the rock-shaft 49. One end of rock-shaft 51 is provided with a yokearm 52, engaging a peripheral groove 53 in the shifting clutch member 20. This shifting clutch member 20, it will be understood, is free to slide on shaft 8, but turns therewith. The

other end of the said rock-shaft 51 is provided with a crank-arm 54. The ends of the crankarms 48 and 54 are approximately in vertical line, and they are connected by a link pin 55, around which is a tension-spring 56. (See Figs. 2, 7, and 8.) The rock-shaft 49 is provided with a second crank-arm 50, extending downwardly.

58 represents a plunger sliding in the ear 59 of a bracket mounted on the base of the machine.

60 represents a powerful coiled spring around the plunger 58 and causing the return movement thereof.

On the journal-box supporting the rear end of the shaft 8 is a half-ring 61. The rear face of the clutch member 20 is provided With an abrupt shoulder 62, having the inclined way 63. (See Figs. 2 and 6.) This abrupt shoul- \Yhen the treadle i7 is depressed. shaft 49 l the clutch members in driving relation, but

is rocked. The crank-arm 50 is thrown to one side. strongly compressingspring (50. same time crank-arm &8 is raised, compressing the spring 56, thus exerting a strain on 51 in the iournal-bearings, and thus throw the yoke-arm 52. 'lhusthe clutch member 21) will be strained toward its cooperating clutch member it). and it will complete its movement whenever permitted by the alinement of the teeth of one clutch-face opposite the spaces between the teeth of the opposing clutch member.

\Ylien the treadle -LT is released, the compression on the spring til) is released. and the tension of the spring reacts upon the rock- At the i the segment (5% holds the end of the treadleH up, thus locking the keeper-pin 43 in one of the holes M, and so holds the support in a locked position without possibility of unlockcrank-arm 5-1: which tends to rock the shaft 1 shaft 9, the crank-arm i8, link 55, crank-arm i 50, rock-shaft 51, and yoke-arm 52, which slides clutch 20, disengaging it from clutch 19; but the clutch 20 cannot slide over far enough to disengage the clutch-teeth until the abrupt shoulder 62 of clutch 20 is above the end of the half-ringol. As before explained, this abrupt shoulder is above the end of the half-ring whenever the projection 25 of the. plunger 21 is engaged with the cam depression 2% of the cam 9. At whatever time the treadle T is released the clutch will not be pressed to the lowest position.

When during the revolution of clutch member 20 the abrupt shoulder (52 is raised above the end of the half-ring 61, the clutch 20 will i complete its lateral slide on shaft 8 in the di- 1 rection of the half-ring, the abrupt shoulder 62 overhanging the end of the half-ring in this position. in this position the clutch is disengaged entirely and the drive thrown out, and, as prevituisly explained, no matter when the treadle is depressed the power will not be completely thrown out except when the cam arrives atthis position in its rotation, the plunger being wholly depressed.

In order to avoid possibility of actuating the pressing mechanism except when a table is locked in position between the iron and plunger, I provide the following instrumentalities. (Best seen in Figs. 1 and 9.)

As previously explained. the pressure-ac- I tuating treadle t? is under the end of the treadle it for locking the ironing-tables in position. The fulcrum end of the treadle ki is provided with a segment 6%, having a locking-indent 65 in its periphery. The foottreadle ti is provided with a rib or detent 66 on its under side (see Fig. 10) adapted to engage into the indent As shown in Fig. '1, one of the ironing-tables is locked in position, but the power is thrown out. To start the operation, treadle JJ is depressed, which rocks the segment 6% upwardly, bringing the indent 65 into locking engagement with the detent ($6. This not only locks the treadle t? down, thus locking ing it so long as power is on. To release, the lever -H is raised, disengaging detent (56 from the indent (if), when the treadle 1LT. being free, will be raised by the reaction of the coilspring (30, which, as above explained. can only occur when the table in commission is depressed to lowest position. Power thus be.- ing thrown out, the lever it may be depressed, unlocking the rotatable support 33, and the support maybe rotated to move the table with the ironed shirt and to insert a new table in position bearing its unironed shirt.

In Fig. 11 the treadle H is shown depressed, unlocking the support, and this can only occur while the treadle 47 is raised and the plungeratrest. \Vhilein this position the treadle i? cannot be depressed, because the front end of segment 6% engages against the rear face of the detent or rib 66, so that treadle a? cannot be depressed to start the machine until the treadle H is raised and locks the support against rotation.

It is quite obvious that most of the details 1 of these various actuating, releasing, and inshifted until the ironing-table has been de terlocking mechanisms may be variously modified without materially departing from the essentials of this invention.

Three ironing-taldes being used, one table may be loaded on one side of the machine and the second table loaded on the other side of the machine during the interval in which the third table is undergoing the pressing operation. Obviously this reduces the operation to the utmost simplicity and vastly shortens the time required to work a given amount of goods as compared to a machine not possessing the same facility of loading and unloading.

The intermitting operation is of the utmost practical importance. The moisture of the goods is vaporized when subjected to the heat of the iron, and if the pressing is done in one pressing operation no opportunity of escape is given to the steam, but it is held and condenses in the interstices of the fabric pressed to the great damage thereof. \Vith my device the intermitting operation provides short intervals of rest, during which the moisture escapes from the fabric.

The interlocking devices insure safety of operation, and the method of releasing the power only when the pressing mechanism is in the lowest position prevents possible damage to either the operator or to the machine.

\Vhile I have shown as the preferred form, a press consisting of the cam-actuated plunger, yet certain features of my invention are equally adaptable to be used in connection with any suitable press. Although I have specified the plunger as having vertical guideway connection with the frame and that each v ironing-table has vertical guideway connec- .each being capable of independent vertical reciprocation on said support, substantially as described.

2. In a shirt-ironer, an ir0n,a plunger thereunder, a standard at one side, a support rotatably journaled on said standard, and two ironing-tables each mounted on guides on said rotatable support, whereby said tables may be independently reciprocated vertically when located between the iron and plunger, substantially as described.

3. In a shirt-ironer, an iron, a plunger thereunder, a standard at one side, a rotatable support journaled thereon, said support having a plurality of radial arms adapted to be successively swung to the position opposite to the iron and plunger, an ironing-table seated on the end of each radial arm and having guideway connection therewith so as to be vertically reciprocated on said arm when actuated by the plunger, substantially as described.

4. In a shirt-ironer, an iron,a plunger thereunder, a standard at one side, a rotatable support journaled thereon, said support having a plurality of radial arms adapted to be successively swung to position opposite to the iron and plunger, an ironing-table seated on the end of each radial arm having guideway connection therewith and laterally extended therefrom so as to be vertically reciprocated on said arm when actuated by the plunger,

anda lock between the standard and support adapted to hold each arm successively in position opposite to the plunger and iron, substantially as described.

5. In a shirt-ironer, an iron, a frame, a

ing-tables, each having independent vertical guideway connection with said support, a lock adapted to hold the support against rotation, a lever for actuating said lock, a lever for ac tuating said plunger, and interlocking mechanism between the two said levers, whereby the plunger can only be actuated when the support is locked, substantially as described.

7. In a shirt-ironer, a frame, an iron, a plunger thereunder, a rotatable support journaled on the frame, a plurality of ironingtables, each having independent vertical guide- Way connection with the support, and adapted to be successively rotated into position between the iron and plunger, a lock between the frame and rotatable support, a foot-treadle for actuating said look, a second foot-treadle for actuating the plunger, said foot-treadles having thereon interlocking devices adapted to be engaged when either of the treadles is depressed, whereby the support cannot be actuated when the plunger is in operation, and whereby the plunger cannot be operated-when the support is unlocked, substantially as described.

8. In a shirt-ironing machine, the frame, an iron, a plunger thereunder, a plurality of ironing-tables, means for supporting said ironing-tables successively over the plunger, means for locking each ironing-table over the plunger, means for actuating the plunger, and an interlocking mechanism formed between the mechanism for locking the tables and the mechanism for actuating the plunger, whereby the tables cannot be moved from position between plunger and iron, while the plunger is in operation, and whereby the plunger cannot be actuated when the tables are unlocked, substantially as described.

9. In a shirt-ironing machine, a frame, an iron, a plunger thereunder, a rotatable support journaled on the frame, a plurality of ironing-tables each having independent vertical guideway connection with said support, and adapted to be successively rotated into position between the iron and plunger, a lock between the frame and support, a foot-treadle pivoted to the frame for controlling said lock, a foot-treadle pivoted to the frame for controlling the plunger, one of said treadles being disposed over the other, said treadles having opposing detent and indent devices adapted to interlock to hold the support against rotation when the plunger is in operation and to hold the plunger-actuating treadle in idle position when the support is unlocked, substantially as described.

10. In a shirt-ironing machine, a frame, a

plunger having vertical guideway connection IIS ber, said two rock-shafts having spring-controlled connection adapted to yieldingly present and retract the shifting clutch member, as the power is respectively thrown in or out, substantially as described.

12. in a shirt-ironing machine, a plunger,

an actuating cam-shaft, fastand loose clutch members thereon, an actuatmglever, a rockshaft connected to said lever, a second rockshaft connected to said shifting clutch member, said two rock-shafts having spring-controlled connection adapted to yieldingly present and retract the shifting clutch member,

as the power is respectively thrown in or out, 1

and a stop adapted to hold the shifting clutch in drivlng relation until the cam-shaft has i completed its rotation and brought the plunger to the lowest position, substantially as described.

13. In a shirt-ironing machine, a plunger, an actuating-shaft therefor, a clutch member on the shaft adapted to turn therewith, a loose clutch on said shaft, one of said clutch members being shi ftable to and from the other,

an actuatingdever, spring-controlled rockshaft and rock-arm connections between said lever and the shifta ble clutch member, adapted to apply the tension of the spring to disengage the shiftable clutch member when said lever is operated, a half-collar in which said shaft turns and against which the shi'ftable clutch member bears when disengaged, said clutch member having an inclined face adapted to hold the clutch member in its engaged position except at a given point in the rotation of said shaft corresponding to a depressed position of the plunger, substantially as described.

ll. In a shirt-ironing machine, a frame, an iron. a plunger, a rotatable support, a radial arm on said support, a seat-plate on said radial arm having two bores, and an ironingtable having two stems engaging into the said bores and forming a guideway, substantially as described.

15. ,In a shirt-ironing machine, an iron, at plunger, a support having a radial arm, a seatplate on said radial arm. an ironing-table having a base-plate adapted to seat on the plunger said base-plate having a laterally-projected bracket-plate adapted to seat on the seatplate of the radial arm and guides formed between said seat and bracket plates, substantially as described.

16. In a shirt-ironer, an iron, a plunger thereunder. a standard at one side, a support journaled thereon, a plurality of ironing-tables each being capable of independent vertical reciprocation on said support, and means for automatically imparting an intermitting pressing operation to said plunger, substantially as described.

17. In a shirtironer, an iron and plunger, a shaft for reciprocating the plunger, fixed and loose clutch members on said shaft, means i for rotating the loose clutch member. means for sliding one of said clutch members to and from the other, spring devices normally pressing the shiftable clutch member toward disengaged position, a stationary abutment and a shoulder on the opposing face of the shiftable clutch member adapted to pass the stationary abutment at a given point in the rotation of said cam member, thereby completing the unshi'fting of the said clutch member and throwing out the power at a predetermined point. substantially as described.

18. In a shirt-ironer, an iron and plunger, a shaft for reciprocating the plunger, lixed and loose clutch members on said shaft, means for rotating the loose clutch member, one of said clutch members being shiftable on said shaft, a lever for shifting said clutch member, rock-shaft androck-arm connection, springcontrolled, between said lever and the shiftable clutch member and means cooperating with the rear face of the clutch member adapted to prevent the complete unshifting of the clutch except at a given point in the shaft rotation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LONZO J. COOPER. \Vitn esses:

OLIVER B. liaison, CuAs. E. Enwa'ans. 

